Slow sales means Izzy's Bagels' days may be numbered

Feb. 21, 2013

Updated 1:17 p.m.

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Shelley Hughes, owner of Izzy's Bagels in Fountain Valley, says the bagel and coffee shop is struggling financially. Without a change in business, which has been recently harder after purchasing the location from the original owners eight years ago, Izzy's Bagels will possibly face closure. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Russ Gibson, who makes at least 500 bagels a day at Izzy's Bagels, finishes a batch of garlic bagels Thursday morning. A 20-year-old mom-and-pop shop on the southwest corner of Warner Avenue and Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley, Izzy's Bagels will close its doors "within months" if its financial state does not change drastically. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Russ Gibson, who makes at least 500 bagels a day at Izzy's Bagels, finishes a batch of garlic bagels Thursday morning. A 20-year-old mom-and-pop shop on the southwest corner of Warner Avenue and Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley, Izzy's Bagels will close its doors "within months" if its financial state does not change drastically. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Shelley Hughes, right, owner of Izzy's Bagels in Fountain Valley, speaks to a customer during a regular morning shift. Without a change in business, which has been recently harder after purchasing the location from the original owners eight years ago, Izzy's Bagels will possibly face closure. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Shelley Hughes organizes her book shelf, which is available for all customers at Izzy's Bagels in Fountain Valley for reading during their meal, or also available for trade and purchase. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Izzy's Bagels, a 20-year-old "Mom-and-Pop Shop" on the southwest corner of Warner Avenue and Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley, will close its doors "within months" if its financial state does not change drastically. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Shelley Hughes, owner of Izzy's Bagels in Fountain Valley, says the bagel and coffee shop is struggling financially. Without a change in business, which has been recently harder after purchasing the location from the original owners eight years ago, Izzy's Bagels will possibly face closure.KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Shelley Hughes, the owner of Izzy's Bagels in Fountain Valley, describes her shop as "the 'Cheers' of bagels."

There is a group of women who come in every Tuesday, sit down and chat over coffee. A group of retired men comes in every morning; they discuss politics, religion and "everything else you're not supposed to talk about," according to employee Mindy Hull, 31.

Hughes' 2-1/2-year-old granddaughter crawls around the tables, and stacks building blocks in the kids' section.

And just like the local saloon may have dozens of ales, lagers and stouts, Izzy's goes beyond the standard everything and cinnamon raisin bagels to provide an array of options: spinach asiago, jalapeÃ±o cheese, chocolate chip, Dutch apple and others that the small staff has yet to conceive. They'll even create customer-suggested bagels.

But despite its extensive menu and homey atmosphere, Izzy's Bagels may soon be cooked.

Located on the corner of Magnolia Street and Warner Avenue, in a center that lacks a cornerstone store but has two corporate competitors, Starbucks and Winchell's, the 20-year-old mom-and-pop eatery is in financial straits. Unless the store sees a significant increase in business – more "new faces," as Hughes puts it –Izzy's Bagels will be closed within months.

"We're struggling. We're drowning like the Titanic," said Hughes, who purchased Izzy's from the original owner eight years ago. "It's been doing poorly for four years and now it's doing poorly enough to where I'm looking at my options."

Hughes, 61, is restrained yet warm – much like her shop. She says she has tried everything to bump her sales, from reaching out to Fountain Valley schools and churches for catering opportunities to recently starting a Facebook page. Yet sales still lag.

"I have never been as involved with any community as I am with (Fountain Valley)," Hughes said. "You get so involved with their wants and needs and their children. I don't want to go anywhere."

But Izzy's, a family-run store in every sense, is facing the same obstacles as many independent businesses: When the Grocery Outlet closed in June 2012, the center's foot traffic crashed. Sign restrictions hurt Izzy's visibility. Corporate advantages give Winchell's and Starbucks a better price point.

"It's hard because the other places are corporate and people know about them," said Becky Barnes, 38, Hughes' daughter-in-law. "But this is a family place, a loving place."

Hughes, Barnes and Izzy's employees stand by their product. Everything is made fresh daily. They'll make special bagels at a customer's request. And they'll let you stay and talk after you finish eating, rather than pushing you out the door.

"I vowed that my place wouldn't be like (Starbucks). We're small, unpretentious and festive," Hughes said. "We're family here. I want to make this work."

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